Nut lock



Oct. 10, 1944. E. B. JOHNSON NUT LOCK Filed Sept. 27. 1943 iawnpo 8- J r M5014 .///.5 fi ToAM/EY Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NUT LOCK Edward B. Johnson, University City, Mo.

Application September 27, 1943, Serial No. 503,919

Claims.

This invention relates to nut locks; and has special reference to nuts having pivoted locking keys or bars equipped with means for holding them in proper location in the nuts, for covering and protecting said locking keys or bars, and for controlling them to permit attachment or detachment of the nuts by wrenches.

This invention relates generally to the type of nut and stud locks disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 492,998, filed July 1, 1943, and has for objects the provision of means in conmotion with the locking key for holding said device in proper longitudinal position in the nut for engagement with the bolt threads, for covering and protecting said locking key and preventing the lodgment of foreign substances and moisture in the nut and along the locking key, and for controlling the locking key to permit attachment and detachment of the nut by wrenches or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved nut locking key arranged to swing from locked to unlocked position, and vice versa, incombination with a device for holding the looking key in proper longitudinal position to enable it to function properly, and for operating said key to a position in which the nut may be screwed on the bolt or removed therefrom.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of a nut screwed on a bolt and equipped with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the bolt and nut having my improved locking key combined therewith and in locking position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View of the bolt and lock on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the locking key device apart from the nut.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the locking key device on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the nut detached from the bolt and apart from the locking key device.

Fig. 7 is a View showing the locking key device disengaged from the bolt to permit the nut to be screwed in either direction along the bolt.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the actuator for the locking key device mounted between the nut and the member through which the bolt extends.

In the invention shown, the bolt or screw 1 is screwed into a threaded hole 2 in a nut 3.

The nut 3 is formed with a longitudinal groove 4 in the wall of the hole 2 wholly out of communication with the periphery and parallel with the axis 5 of the nut, which is coincidental with the axis of the bolt or screw when the nut is engaged thereon. Said groove 4 comprises outwardly converging walls 6 and 1 intersecting a curved bearing wall 8 preferably parallel with the axis 5 and constituting a seat for one longitudinal edge of the locking key plate or bar 9.

The nut 3 is polygonal in end'elevation and, as shown, is hexagonal. The locking key plate or bar 9 is formed with an elongated wall I 0 (Fig. 5) along one longitudinal edge thereof adapted to bear and seat against the curved bearing wall 8 of the groove for pivotal swinging movements of the key plate or bar to locked or unlocked posi tion, and Vice versa. The thickness of the key plate or bar 9 is necessarily less than the circumierential width of the groove l in which said key plate or bar is mounted. This permits pivotal swinging movements of the key plate or bar, 9 in the groove in directions from the respective walls 6 and l for locking and unlocking action. That is, the key plate or bar .9 may swing along the curved wall 8, as required either to lock or to unlock the nut. The width of the key plate or bar 9 is slightly greater than the radial depth of the groove 4, but is at least equal to or less than the width of one or either of the walls 6 and i. The length of the key plate 9 should be not greater than the length of the nut. In the arrangement shown, when the key plate or bar 9 is adjacent to the wall 6 of the groove, the bolt I may be screwed into the threaded hole 2 of the nut 3, or said nut 3 may be screwed onto or from said bolt or screw.

The opposite longitudinal edge of the key plate or bar 9 from the longitudinal bearing edge It thereof has a longitudinal series of serrations H complementary to the threads in the hole 2 and complementary to and engaging the threads 01' the bolt or screw l. Because of the fact that the key plate or bar 9 is slightly narrower than the width of the wall 6 or of the wall 7 of the groove 4 in which said plate or bar 9 is seated, the bolt or screw l and the nut 3 may be relatively rotated in or about the other to final clamping position, or may be unscrewed to detach the nut from the bolt.

One end of the key plate or bar 9 is rigidly attached to a combined guard and control device for said key or bar. As shown, said combined guard and control device comprises a polygonal open frame I2 having the same form and diameter as the form and diameter of the nut 3. As shown, one end of the key plate or bar 9 is fitted in a notch I3 in the frame I2 and is secured thereto by a weld I4. The frame I2 is provided with an enlarged opening I5 to receive the end of the bolt or screw I and permit free swinging movements of said frame, as required to swing the key plate or bar 9 from unlocked position (Fig. '7) to locked position (Fig. 2), or vice versa. One corner portion of the frame I2 is engaged with a pivot I6 projecting rigidly from one end corner portion of the nut 3 parallel with the axis 5 and concentric with the curved bearing wall 8 for the key plate or bar 9. When the parts are assembled in proper position for use, the frame I2 is seated against one end of the nut 3 with said frame engaging the pivot I6 to permit swinging movements of the frame from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and vice versa, while the bearing edge I!) operates against the curved bearing wall 8. In Fig. 7, the side edges of the frame l2 are in alinement with the sides of the polygonal nut 3; whereas, in Fig. 2, the frame I2 has swimg upon the pivot I6 to a disalined position relative to the nut. Mere placement of the frame I2 against the end of the nut 3 in which said frame is engaged with the pivot I6 places the serrations II in registration or alinement with the threads of the nut; And, when the frame I2 has its sides alined with the sides of the polygonal nut 3, said nut may be either screwed onto or from the bolt or screw I. It will be noted that the frame I2 wholly covers and protects the wall 8 of the groove 4 and largely covers and guards said groove to prevent the lodgment of relatively large bodies of foreign substances therein. Also, the frame I2 also constitutes means for accurately locating the key bar or plate 9 in the groove 4 and preventing any longitudinal movement of said bar or plate while the frame I2 is against the end of the nut 3.

'An actuator spring I! has one end attached to the inner side of the frame I2 and another end engaged against a projection I8 rigid with the nut. 3. This arrangement may be varied if desired. The spring I! is effective to move the frame from the position shown in Fig. 7 in which said frame is alined with the nut 3, to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which said frame is disalined from the nut 3. This swinging movement of the frame I2 actuates the key plate or bar 9 to locking position in rigid engagement with the threads on the bolt or screw I, so that it is impossible to turn the screw or bolt I or the nut 3 in a direction to loosen the nut 3 on the bolt or screw. I

The frame I2 is made so that at least one of its polygonal sides or edges will aline or register with the polygonal sides of the nut 3 in order to enable a socket or other wrench to be engaged with both the nut and'the frame at the same time. Such engagementof a wrench with the bolt and the frame will hold the key plate or bar 9 in unlocking position and permit operation of the wrench to unscrew the nut 3 from the bolt, or to unscrew the bolt from the nut. Upon detachment of the wrench from the nut and frame, the spring I I acts to move the frame to disalined position relative to the nut (Fig. 2) and thereby move the key plate or bar to effective locking position.

side of the nut, whereas Fig. 8 shows a reversal Fig. 1 shows the frame I2, located on the outer with the frame I2 mounted against the inner end wall of the nut. That is, the frame I2 may be located against either end wall of the nut for effective locking action.

It should now be evident that my invention consists of a locking key plate or bar, in combination with a device for moving the same both to locking and unlocking positions, for preventing displacement of the key plate or bar in its assembly in a nut, and for guarding and protecting the same when assembled for use.

The invention may be varied otherwise than in the specific particulars mentioned.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a bolt having external screwthreads, a nut having a hole provided with screwthreads complementary to and engaging said external screwthreads on said bolt and having a, longitudinal groove parallel with the axis and wholly out of communication with the periphery thereof, a bearing wall at the bottom of said groove approximately parallel with the axis of said nut, a, key plate or bar mounted in said groove and having a longitudinal edge bearing againstsaid bearing wall and having a width slightly greater than the radial depth of said groove and slightly less than one of said walls, serrations on the opposite edge of said key plate or bar complementary to said screwthreads in said nut and on said bolt and leaving said nut and bolt free for relative turning movements to screw said nut onto said bolt toward final effective position and preventing relative turning movements of said nut and said bolt to loosen or unscrew the same from said final effective position, and a frame attached to said key plate or bar and pivotedto said nut eccentrically of the axis thereof for swinging said key plate or bar toward and from radial position.

2. A nut having a hole provided with screwthreads for engaging external threads on a bolt on which said nut is to be secured and also having a longitudinal groove across said threads parallel with the axis and wholly out of communication with the periphery of said nut, a bearing wall at the bottom of said groove, a key plate mounted in said groove and having a longitudinal edge bearing against said wall and having a width slightly greater than the radial width of said groove, serrations on the opposite'edge of said key plate complementary to the threads in said nut and leaving said nut free to be screwed onto the bolt to final effective position and preventing turning movements of said nut to loosen or'unscrew the same from said final effective position, and a frame pivoted to said nut outwardly beyond said groove and attached to said key plate for swinging said key plate toward and from radial position in said nut'for clampingly engaging and releasing the threads on the bolt. 2

3. A device of the character described comprising a bolt having external screwthreads, a not having a hole provided with screwthreads complementary to and engaging said external screwthreads on said bolt and having a longitudinal groove parallel with the axis and wholly out of communication with the periphery thereof and crossing said screwthreads in said hole, a key plate or bar mounted in and having a width slightly greater than the radial width of said groove, serrations along the inner edge of said key plate or bar complementary to said screwthreads in said nut and on said'bolt and leaving,

said nut and bolt free for relative turning movements to screw said nut onto said bolt toward final effective position and preventing relative turning movements of said nut and said bolt to loosen or unscrew said nut from said final effective position, a pivot attached to one end of said nut outwardly beyond said groove, and a frame mounted on said pivot and attached to said key crossing said screwthreads in said hole, a key plate or bar mounted in and having a width slightly greater than the radial width of said groove, serrations along the inner edge of said key plate or bar complementary to said screwthreads in said nut and on said bolt and leaving said nut and bolt free for relative turning movements to screw said nut onto said bolt toward final effective position and preventing relative turning movements of said nut and said bolt to loosen or unscrew said nut from said final efiec-- tive position, a pivot attached to one end of said nut outwardly beyond said groove, a frame mounted on said pivot and attached to said key plate or bar for swinging said key plate or bar toward and from position to prevent relative turning movements of said nut and said bolt in a direction to loosen or unscrew the same, and a spring device for moving said plate to position preventing relative turning movements of said nut and said bolt in a direction to loosen or unscrew the same.

5. A device of the character described comprising a bolt having external screwthreads, a polygonal nut having a hole provided with screwthreads complementary to and engaging said external screwthreads on said bolt, a key plate or bar mounted for swinging movements in said nut for movements to and from position to engage and clamp against said screwthreads on said bolt and prevent turning of said nut in a direction to loosen or unscrew the same, and a polygonal frame pivoted to one end of said nut eccentrically of said hole and attached to said key plate or bar for moving the same to and from said position and having side edges for registration with the polygonal sides of said nut for simultaneously engaging a wrench and holding said key plate or bar in position to permit turning of said nut to loosen or unscrew the same.

EDWARD B. JOHNSON. 

